STAGELAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 21, 16 April 1927, Page 21 (Supplement)

STAGELAND

(Bj/

COTHURNUS.)

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE Now Playing.—“No, No, Nanette” (Elsie Prince). May 7-May 13.—“ Crooks, Ltd.” (University Students). July 2-July 16.—“ Lady Be Good.” Coming “Meet the Wife” and “The Best People.” “Tell Me More.” Renee Kelly in “The Last of Mrs. Cheney,” “Daddy Longlegs,” and other pieces. “Rose Marie.” Nellie Bramley Co., in several plays. LITLE THEATRE MOVEMENT April 21. —“You Never Can Tell.” Ada Reeve left for England recently by the Oronsay. She says she never means to act again in Australia if she returns there. * * * Blake Adams, who was in New Zealand with Gladys Moncrieff in “The Lady of the Rose,” is in the comic opera “The Apache” in London. # ■* * Oscar Asche and Lily Brayton are going to treat London to Bland’s poetic play of “Francesca.” Mr. Asche has fathered some brilliant failures since he returned to England. * * * “No, No, Nanette,” the record-break-ing musical comedy, will open its Auckland season this evening at His Majesty’s Theatre. * * * Maurice Moscovitch is playing “They ( Knew What They Wanted” in Melbourne. The company is the same as that which played the piece in New Zealand.

“The best acting in ‘The First Year,’ says a London paper, “comes from Ernest Truex (an American actor) as the timid husband. Here is acting unmatched in London: perfectly balanced comedy and pathos.

It has been suggested that J. C. Williamson, Ltd., should endeavour to induce Nellie Stewart to visit New Zealand and play “Sweet Nell of Old Drurv,” which has proved such a wonderful success in Sydney and Melbourne. Also that Bland Holt, who produced and played in such dramas as “The World” and “New Babylon,” should be invited to once more conic before the footlights and show how the sensational plays were produced in “the good old days.” Bland. Hoit is an old Dunedin boy.

Warde Morgan, who was injured in a train smash in New South Wales, is returning to the stage in a revival of “The Cousin from Nowhere,” in Sydney. He recently came over to New Zealand for a trip during the viist of the “Frasquita” Company, in which he was interested.

“Six Cylinder Love.” a clever comedy of suburban life and motor-car owners, has been produced in Sydney. The play is well acted, with Richard Taber. Haie Norcross, and Mary Ellen Hanley scoring well, with the same excellent acting that characterised their presentation of “Is Zat So.”

Sir Gerald du Maurier . has scored another personal triumph in “Interference,” a new drama by Roland Pertwee (the novelist), and Harold Dearden (a doctor by profession). Herbert Marshall is also singled out, and Moyna Mac Gill and Hilda Moore are outstanding in the woman parts.

Although “You Never Can Tell” belongs to George Bernard Shaw’s earlier period, it has all the charm and wit of his later works. Shaw is unquestionably thfc greatest critic of the present age, and his observations of people and things have yet to be equalled. “You Never Can Tell” will be presented by the Little Theatre Society at the Auckland Town Ha 11 on April 21, 22 and 23.

The committee of the Little Theatre Society looks forward with optimism to this year’s activities. The membership has already considerably exceeded the preceding years and subscriptions are still pouring in. There is no doubt that great interest is being shown in the movement and that strong support will be given the society, not only by its members by the public generally. In these circumstances the committee feels justified in tackling bigger and more expensive productions than have been presented in the past. Under earnest consideration are such works as “If” bv Lord Dunsaney, •Outward Bound,” by Sutton Vane, and •Anna Christie,” by Eugene O'Neill. If these plays can be arranged for, and there should be no reason why permission to play them should not be granted, the producer' believes that he can cast them satisfactorily and with the present financial state of affairs ambitious productions could be given. Thus will Aucklanders have the opportunity of seeing all that is best in repertory work. The first presentation of the year will be given in the concert chamber, Town Hall, on April 21, 22 ond 23, when Bernard Shaw’s brilliant comedy will be offered. The performance will only be given for three nights so members, intending members and the public who intend to support the society, should book their seats without delay-

Tliurza Rogers is dancing for joy off the stage in Sydney. She has just received a beautiful sapphire ring from Madame Pavlova from Vienna. “Just as a little token of remembrance, to wish you all luck and happiness in Australia, and to let you know your place is always waiting for you with us when you want to come back,” went Madame's accompanying note. The ring, set in platinum and chased antique gold, is a large sapphire—the size of a good grown pea—and with two diamonds, one on each side in separate settings. Miss Rogers is a Wellington girl who danced in Pavlova’s company in New Zealand. * * * A forthcoming J. C. Williamson vaudeville attraction of unusual interest is Baby Randall, a real child wonder. This artist is four years old. She plays the piano by ear, and knows approximately 25 popular pieces. The act opens in a nursery, with a child seated on a rocking horse, and the room is full of toys and has a grand piano. The partner enters and tells her what a lucky girl she is to receive such a wonderful lot of presents on her birthday, and the best .present of all is the piano from her mother. Would she play it? She is lifted from the rocking horse to the piano, and the audience is asked to call out any wellknown popular air. The child immediately obliges. Due to her small hands she sometimes strikes a wrong note, but, if anything, this is an advantage. * * * ‘*The Green Plat” has a huge cast of women. There must be about 17 or 18 of them in it. This will be a change after so many long casts of men. The play is to have its premiere in Melbourne. Wallace Clark will stay for it, and George Baxter is coming from the United States to take a prominent part. Olga Lee will also be in it, and, of course, Judith Anderson will be the lady who sports the green hat—lris Storm.

Nellie Bramley, who has just con eluded a most successful Tasmanian tour, will open at the Theatre Royal in Christchurch on April 16. The repertoire will include “Paddy, the Next Best Thing,” “Baby Mine,” “A Little Bit of Fluff,” and the two old favourites, “Fair and Warmer” and “Peg O’ My Heart.” Since the company was last in New Zealand it has been considerably augmented by the inclusion of several leading .English artists. These include Brett Randall, a young comedian of the “dude” type, Mab Gower, and Eva Dawney. Of the older members the following will visit New Zealand: Joy Jewlett, Millie Carlton, Maria Dalton, John Galway and Robert Purdie, who is also the company’s producer. After the New Zealand tour the company will return to the Grand Opera House, Sydney.

A splendidly chosen cast is working strenuously for the production of “You Never Can Tell” at the Town Hall on April 21. This is Mr. Kenneth Brampton’s venture with the Little Theatre Society and great things are expected of him.

The British stage has a great champion in Sir Johnston Forbes-Robert-son. who has just celebrated his 74tb birthday. He speaks enthusiastically of the modern drama, and the earh' ’seventies when he was a young actor. There is no American invasion of the British stage, he says, “We have American plays and American actors in England, just as there are English plays and English actors in the United States. It is merely an interchange. The only trouble is the decline of the actor-manager. In the old days the actor-manager was almost the backbone of the theatre. There were men like Irving. Tree, Wyndham, and others, including myself: and one of the greatest secrets of the stage was the personal element. It is a great pity that the personal element is going. Now, in most cases, the manager is not known to the public. The average standard of acting is higher now than when I first went on the stage in 1574. Then there were what I call ‘pinnacles,’ very great artists —who

stood out from the indifferent artists who surrounded them. The plays were not so well played by the rank and file. The drama has changed greatly. There are more dramatists and they have a wider outlook. More people go to see plays now because the theatre has become a great educational institution.” * * * Frank Harvey, last here with “The Skin Game,” is at present supporting Pauline Frederick in “Madame X” in London. Miss Frederick is making her first acquaintance with London from the legitimate stage. * * * “Frasquita” has opened in Newcastle for a week’s run before going on to Sydney. * * * Olive Sloane is to have the lead in the new J.C.W. production, “Cradle Snatches,” which is to be produced shortly. She has not yet visited New Zealand. * * * Ilowett Worster and Mamie Watson are in the cast of “Princess Charming,” the Waller-Clayton show on tour round the English provincial cities. Mr. Worster was last here in “Dorothy,” Miss Watson with “The O’Brien Giri.” * * * Many inquiries from various parts of New Zealand have been received by Air. Bert Royle (New Zealand representative of J. C. Williamson Ltd) as to when “Rose Marie,” the wonderfully successful musical comedy now smashing records in London and Australia, will be in the Dominion. It is impossible even to speculate as to the date of its incursion in New Zealand, but it will come. * * * “Lady, Be Good.” another of -the musical comedies full of lively incidents, catchy songs and dancing interludes, will shortly be presented in Auckland. It will be staged, as “No, No, Nanette,” by J. C. Williamson Ltd., under special arrangement with Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller. There are many amusing scenes in this latest musical frivol, and ample opportunity is afforded Elsie Prince, Jimmy Godden and Charlton Morton to display their versatility and dapeing prowess. * * * • The management of Daly’s Theatre is satsfied that the “Blue Mazurka” will run a year, and has introduced many new features,” said Gladys Moncrieff recently in London. “I have been offered a further contract upon completion of the present run. Simultaneously I have reecived the largest Australian offer of my career, placing me in a quandary. J am unable at present to decide which to accept. The Australian sunshine and my old friends are almost irresistibly attractive. On the other hand, London is London. Repeated successes here count much in an actress’s life.”

“The Cradle Song,” translated from the Spanish of Nartinez Sierra, is receiving flattering attention from English theatre-goers.

Only a few days ago the personnel of “The Best People” theatrical company left Newcastle for New Zealand, where they propose to continue their Australian success; but they left behind them their manager, Jack Fanning. For 50 years Mr. Fanning has been a theatrical manager, and he had just celebrated his 71st birthday when “The Best People” left him. But he had very sound reasons for letting them go. He is a bad sailor. He has been a bad sailor for all those 50 years, and though in the old days, before trans-continental expresses were thought of, business often forced him to travel by sea from Sydney to Adelaide and back, these experiences only served to confirm his love for good solid earth.

Zelda Sears and Garnett Weston have written a play called “The Evangelist,” which, according to Variety, embodies the Aimee Semple McPherson case. Miss Sears, who is Mrs. Lou Wiswell in private life, has been living in Los Angeles for two or three years and so has been in close touch with the McPherson affair. The play is a prologue and three acts, the prologue set in an evangelistic tent with a mother playing the organ and her daughter doing the preaching. They are graduates from a circus. The first act is in an apartment adjoining a tabernacle the woman has built in an Eastern city; the second in a cabin in the Adirondacks, and the third returns to the apartment. From its outline the story certainly follows the adventurous life of Mrs. McPherson and there are other indications as to its source. A production of the play is to be made in California by Wiswell.